Control apparatus for vending machines



Nov. 24, 1953 A K 2,660,284

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, l948 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 INVENTOR. Em/c'sr E ya,?,

/ AWQ 1953 E. E. YORK 2,660,284

CONTROL. APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J N '9j 1 m 1 4'8 49 5 61 29 g 40 A PM 33/ "43 29*; INVENTOR.

ATTOR/VEV Patented Nov. 24, 1953 CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VENDING MACHINES Ernest E. York, Portland, Maine, assignor to American Coin Changer Corp., Boston, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application. October 26, 1948, Serial No. 56,569

2 Claims. (Cl. 194-80) My invention relates to a control apparatus for coinor token-operated vending machines and more particularly concerns apparatus for governing the dispensing and coin changer mechanism of such machines.

Although the apparatus of the invention is suited for electrical operation, the invention is particularly directed toward providing apparatus of the character indicated which is especially adapted for use in hand operated vending machines.

Control mechanisms for hand operated machines must be of extremely rugged construction in order to withstand the abuse to which such machines are subjected on location. It is further essential that they be mechanically sound and not prone to get out of order from failures other than those induced by abuse, since machines of this class are generally placed in remote locations visited by the service man only at infrequent intervals.

The apparatus of the invention fully meets the requirements of ruggedness and mechanical soundness. Moreover, the several parts, due to their simplicity, are easily and cheaply manufactured and readily assembled.

The apparatus may be used in various types of vending machines and in the vending of various and sundry articles. Thus it may be employed, for example, in machines dispensing toilet or sanitary articles, confectionery, tobacco in any of its several forms, or soft drinks or other beverages, whether delivered by the machine in bottles or in cups filled by the machine. It is contemplated that the machine includes a push bar or actuating lever extending outside the easing of the machine, a slot for the reception of a coin, an open change box or dish from which the customer recovers any change due him and a mechanism for detecting spurious coins.

Generally described, the apparatus herein comprises a slide linearly moveable on a stationary support structure through the actuating lever of the machine, the slide being adapted for operative association with the dispensing mechanism of the machine. Movement of the slide is controlled by a stop or latch member which the slide engages when no coin or a spurious coin has been inserted in the machine and which is removed from the path of travel of the slide,

when an acceptable coin has been inserted, by a second slide integrated with the first slide by the coin. The apparatus further comprises a coin chamber and means actuable to release coins from the chamber, the coin release means being actuated on integration of the two slides by a coin of a value exceeding the purchase price of the article dispensed.

I shall describe my invention in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof and in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus represented, certain parts in the lower portion of the figure being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a right hand end view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. l, but somewhat enlarged;

Figs. 4-6 are views on the lines indicated in Fig. 3; and. i

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing the construction of one of the parts.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the numeral In denotesa support structure on which is mounted a plate H having slots l2 through which studs It, fixed to the support structure, pass. Plate H is moveable toward an element [5, which may be considered as the dispenser arm or equiva lent part of a machine in which the apparatus is mounted, by push bar I6 linked to the plate through lever l1.

Disposed in the path of movement of plate I I, in position to engage the notched portion of the leading edge thereof, is a hook l9 which is an integral part of a latch member 20 (see Fig. 3) having a cam portion 2! extending through a slot 22 in the plate ll. Latch 20 is pivotally connected to a bracket 23 fixed to the support It and is urged away from the face of the support member by a spring 24 wound about the pivot pin 25 and bearing on the bracket and the back of the latch. Support In has a slot 26 therein which allows the hook end of the latch to be thrown out of the path of movement of the plate I I.

Secured to the bottom edge of plate H, as by welding, is a serrated attachment 2'! which with pawl 28, hinged pinned to the support ill, constitutes a full stroke device which comes into play after plate II has been moved beyond the point of hook I9. Such an arrangement is conventional in this art and need not be described in further detail.

Mounted over and slideably associated with plate ll is a secondary plate 29 having slots 30 through which pass studs 3| fixed to plate ll. Plate 29 normally does not move with plate ll within the limits of movement of plate ll set by the hook l9, being restrained by the cam portion 2| of the latch member 20. Spring 24 governing latch member 20 is sufficiently strong that it cannot be overcome simply by the frictional forces tending to integrate the plates. On independent movement of plate ll, studs 31 substantially traverse the length of slots 30.

Fixedly secured to the face of plate H confronted by plate 29, but above the latter plate, is a coin carrier assembly indicated generally in Fig. 1 by the numeral 32. This assembly, which is fastened to plate H by bolts 33, includes (see Fig. 3) plates 3 35, and 36, each provided with a longitudinal groove 36a, 35a and 36a, respectively, and spacer members 31, 38 and 38 which serve as coin pusher or carrier elements. Ridin in each of the grooves 34a. 35a and 35a is a rod M, ii and 42, respectively, having a finger 43, 4d and 55, respectively, adaptedto engage the leading edge of a coin carried thereagainst. In the embodiment illustrated, finger i3 is spaced from its associated carrier element 31 a distance sufficient to accommodate a five cent piece, while fingers ll! and G are spaced from carrier elements t8 and 39, respectively, distances determined by the diameters of a ten cent piece and a twenty-five cent piece, respectively. A coin platform 61 extends forward from the support it below the several fingers through a slot 52 in plate II. This platform may be made retractable, if desired.

Between main plate H and carrier element 39 is interposed a spaced plate 63.

A spring .6 attached at one end to a pin fixed to grooved plate 34. and at the other end to a bracket 4?, shown as integral with the support structure If], is placed in tension when plate H is moved toward element [5 and accordingly returns the plate and the parts associated therewith, including the push bar 56, to normal position, i. e. the position shown in Fig. 1, following either a full stroke or stopped stroke of the push bar.

Rod dd terminates at its end opposite the finger 43 in an inverted L-shaped member or portion 48 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which is fixedly secured to plate 29, hereinbefore referred to as the secondary plate. In effect, rod :19 and plate 29 are a single unit, the plate moving as the rod.

Rod i! is attached at its end opposite the finger M to a bent lever 49 which turns about a pivot 5% supported through a boss extending from the forward face of the support l0. Similarly, rod 22 which mounts finger 45 is fastened at its end opposite the finger to a bent lever 5! (see Fig. 2) which is apertured at its elbow to encircle pivot 58. A spacer 58a separates the two levers at their pivot points. The upper ends of the levers are slotted to provide lost motion connections. They connect at their lower ends with slotted levers 52 and 53, respectively.

Welded or otherwise suitably fastened to the forward face of support It is a coin changer unit including a coin chamber 54, containing coins 55, and a slide box 56 confining apertured slides 57 and 5B, the apertures in the slides being circular and having a diameter slightly greater than that of a five cent piece. Box 56 opens at its bottom to a coin chute indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.

Slide 51, which has a thickness corresponding to one five cent piece, is hingedly connected to lever 52, while slide 58, which has a thickness equivalent to three five cent pieces, is similarly connected to lever 53. Slide 51 has a shoulder portion 59 which is abutted by the adjacent side 4 of slide 58. Accordingly, slide 58 always carries slide 51 with it when it is moved through the lever system made up of levers 5| and 53. Slide box 56 has a slot in its top through which extend the fixtures by means of which the slides are fastened to the actuating levers. A spring extending between the lower end of lever 49 and the bottom edge of lever 52 aids in. the positive return of the slides.

Reverting now to the upper portion of the apparatus, it is to be noted that each of the fingers 43, 44 and 45 is slanted toward the coin in order that the coin cannot be forced upwardly out of the pocket formed by the finger, its associated carrier element, and the platform 6|.

The shape of the carrier elements 38 and 39 is illustrated by Fig. '7. The slot 61 is designed to accommodate the finger of the associated rod, i.'e. rod M in the case of carrier element 38, rod t2 in the case of carrier element 39. Bevelled or slanted edge 68 facilitates entry of the coin into the particular pocket. Carrier element 31 may be formed as elements 38 and 39, but need not be slotted in the instance of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated by the drawings.

Operation Operation of the apparatus is best explained in terms of the denomination of the coin inserted in the machine. Assuming a genuine five cent piece has been inserted, the same is directed (see Figs. 3 and 6) by suitable means, not shown, into the space between finger 43 and the left hand edge of carrier element 31, the coin being there given undersupport by the platform 6!. When bar 6 is thereafter pushed to move main plate H toward element l5, representing the dispensing arm of the machine, plate 29 moves with plate H. This follows since carrier element 31 is in effect an integral part of the main plate and since rod 40 is fixedly secured to plate 29, the secondary plate, through the inverted L-shaped member t8, the horizontal section of which lies under the right hand ends of rods 4| and 42. On movement of plate 28 with plate H the leading edge of plate 29 engages with the cam or lug 2|, integral with the latch 29, to throw the hook l9 out of the path of the main plate which continues on to strike arm l5. In the meantime, carrier element 31 has rolled the coin off the left hand edge of the platform 6! into a suitable receptacle, diverter or classifier, not shown. Rods M and 42 remain stationary throughout the stroke, the fingers thereon being accommodated by the slots 6'! (See Fig. '7) in the carrier elements 38 and 39, respectively.

On completion of the full stroke of the push bar, a full stroke being assured by attachment 2'! and co acting pawl .25, the two plates carrier assembly are returned to normal position by the spring 41 as previously noted.

Next, let it be assumed that a ten cent piece has been introduced into the machine. Since the purchase price of the article is five cents, it is necessary in such case to return a five cent piece to the customer along with his purchase. The coin in this instance is caused to fall into the space between the leading edge of carrier and the finger 44 which is integral with rod 66 connecting with the slide 5? in slide box 56 through levers 49 and 52.. As rod 4| is carried to the left by the carrier 38 through the coin, it is obvious that slide 5'! will withdraw the lowermost five cent piece from the stack of coins in chamber 54 5 and that it will deposit the withdrawn coin in the chute to which the bottom of the slide box opens.

It is particularly important for a clear understanding of the illustrated embodiment of the invention to note that the upper left edge of lever 49 bears on the horizontal portion of the inverted L-shaped member 48 as the lever is pulled to the left by the rod 4|. This causes plate 29 to move with plate II, the former plate on such movement throwing the hook I9 out of the path of plate ll through contact with lug 2| just as before. On return of the plates following completion of the delivery stroke, the horizontal portion of member 48 bears on the edge of the lever to return it and the slide 51 to the positions shown in Fig. 1.

It is believed that the operation of the machine when the inserted coin is a twenty-five cent piece is obvious from the immediate foregoing. However, it should perhaps be noted that lever 5| co-acts with member 48 just as lever 49 cacts therewith and that slide 58, which is linked to the rod 42 through levers and 53, carries slide 51 with it when it is withdrawn to the end that four five-cent pieces will be delivered to the customer with his purchase. This movement of slide 51 is, of course, accompanied by an idle stroke of rod 42 and the associated levers.

Let it now be assumed that no coin is present in any of the pockets formed by the fingers and carrier elements in conjunction with the platform 6|. Under this circumstance, movement of plate H, when bar [6 is pushed, is arrested by the hook 20, since plate 20 does not move with plate II to displace the hook. Accordingly, arm I5 is not actuated and nothing is released from the machine.

It is understood that the invention will not be considered as restricted to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, since various changes and modifications may obviously be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

I claim:

1. In a coin-controlled device, a support structure, a coin-receiving member mounted thereon for sliding movement through a predetermined path, said member having a plurality of coin tracks for receiving coins of low, intermediate and high value, a stop yieldably mounted on said support to limit the movement of said coinreceiving member to less than the extent of said predetermined path, a coin carrier member secured to said coin-receiving member adjacent each of said tracks at one side thereof, a coin carriable member slidably mounted adjacent each of said tracks extending freely through the corresponding coin-carrier member and terminating at the side of its respective track opposite said coin carrier member in a coinengaging abutment spaced from said coin carrier member by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the coin receivable in said track whereby each said coin carriable member moves in response to movement of its respective carrier member when a coin is in said track, stop displacing means slidably mounted on said coin receiving member yieldably secured to said supporting structure to normally maintain a stationary position while said coin receiving member 0 Number is moving to said stop, said stop displacing means being secured to the coin carriable member adjacent the track for the lowest value coins and movable with said member when a coin is in said track in response to movement of said coinreceiving member to displace said stop from the path of said coin-receiving member, the coin carriable member adjacent the track for the lowest value coins being movable independently of the remaining coin carriable members, said last-named coin carriable members being movable independently of each other and being arranged so that movement of each of them causes corresponding movement of said firstnamed coin carriable member.

. 2. In a coin-controlled device, a support structure, a coin-receiving member mounted thereon for sliding movement through a predetermined path, said member having a plurality of coin tracks for receiving coins of low, intermediate and high value, a stop yieldably mounted on said support to limit the movement of said coinreceiving member to less than the extent of said predetermined path, a coin-carrier member secured to said coin-receiving member adjacent each of said tracks at one side thereof, a coin carriable member adjacent each of said tracks slidably mounted on said coin-receiving member normally maintained in stationary position with respect to said supporting structure and having a coin-engaging abutment at the side of its re spective track opposite said coin carrier member and spaced from said coin carrier by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the coin receivable in said track whereby each said coin carriable member moves in response to movement of its respective coin carrier member when a coin is in said track, stop displacing means slidably mounted on said coin-receiving member yieldably secured to said supporting structure to normally maintain a stationary position while said coin-receiving member is moving to said stop, said stop displacing means being secured to the coin carriable member adjacent the track for the lowest value coins and movable with said member when a coin is in said track in response to movement of said coin-receiving member to displace said stop from the path of said coinreceiving member, the coin carriable member adjacent the track for the lowest value coins being movable independently of the remaining coin carriable members, said last-named coin carriable members being movable independently of each other and being arranged so that movement of each of them causes corresponding movement of said first-named coin carriable member.

ERNEST E. YORK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dain Sept. 20, 1892 Barili Feb. 16, 1915 Thompson Dec. 23, 1919 Fogelsonger Feb. 3, 1925 'Ross July 5, 1932 Auerbach Nov. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Dec. 15, 1913 Number 

